News
Aviation Minister to demolish Oyedepo’s hangar at MMIA, Lagos
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation,. Senator Hadi Sirika said, a hangar built by Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo will be demolished in a couple of days.
Sirika stated this over the weekend that another one belong to the former DG NCAA two which were located at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja will be demolished in order to pave way for the expansion of the terminal apron.
“One of hangars is Dominion Hangar, belonging to the General Overseer of Living Faith Ministry, Bishop Oyedepo while the other, Evergreen Apple, belongs to the former Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Harold Demuren; both are scheduled for demolition in a couple of weeks to expand the new terminal’s apron. According to the minister, nothing can stop the development.
This is coming barely two weeks after the Stakeholders Forum, where he reiterated plans to tear down the regional headquarters of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to make way for an Aeropolis which according to unions was never planned for Lagos Airport.
The Minister who was in Lagos weekend to commission new fire fighting vehicles used the opportunity to talk about his action, slamming critics who are asking what the end game is to all the demolitions and planned demolitions.
He said since the terminal in Lagos has been open to use, it had barely struck near its full capacity, stressing the need for the demolition of the two facilities.
He said: ”We are not operating Lagos airport at full capacity. We have some obstructions that will be removed within the next one or two weeks to expand the Apron so that Lagos will have full use 100%.
“Those two hangars I talked about , Dominion and Evergreen will have to go and give way for our airport to be more efficient. It is a $300million investment over there and they can’t sit there in public interest. We have to shift them, I don’t know them, of course I know Demuren, my leader but I don’t know the other guy, it has to go. You can’t deny Lagos and the country in general from using the airports.
”We are going to demolish Dominion Hangar and Evergreen Apple Nigeria hangars to make way for the new Apron and that would be in a few weeks. Demolition of Dominion and Evergreen Apple is a must.”
When asked to clarify further the buildings he has earmarked to demolish apart from Dominion and EAN, he refused further comments on the matter.
Recall that Sirika in March 2022 demolished the over N5bn regional headquarters of the Accident Investigation Bureau now National Safety Investigation Bureau ( NSIB) over terminal expansion of which nothing visible has started save from mechanic workshops and food vendors shops which are springing up from there.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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